High Light for 10g - Cost Effective

[James0816]

It's that time again....time to bump the experiment platform. I now want to add another 10g test tank for high light. So we're talking ~ 3 wpg. I'm not looking to spend an arm and a leg on this since this is a test subject so I am looking at a cost effective solution to get to the 3wpg mark on such a small tank.

I briefly looked at Lowe's yesterday for small flourenscent fixtures but the closest one I could find was a T8 20w.

Come to think about it about it though....isn't the wpg rule not really effective on such a small tank? If so, what would be classified as high light for this.

The experiment will involved DIY Co2 with high light demanding plants.

 

[icemanx23]

Around 3-4wpg of compact fluorescent lighting will be a high light for this tank. If possible use one 16 inch long 36 watts PC tube rather than spiral bulbs. Spiral bulbs cause restrike and produce lots of heat and little light compare to long tubes.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

To get the most bang for your buck. Go with a 36watt AH kit. They will fit into an AGA Fluorescent Housing too.
http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

 

[Turbosaurus]

A friend of mine bought a "daylight" desk lamp from Home depot for $20 that comes with a 27w twin tube CF bulb. The lamp base sits to the left of the tank with the arm over the top. He has a beautiful HC lawn in a 5.5 gallon, that's a pretty light demanding plant. The 5.5 tank is 2" shallower, 2" less front to back and 4" less left to right than a ten gallon, so 27w is not going to cut it for you. I only mention it because if you can find one with a 36w bulb you should be fine and then you don't have to build your own housing or rip apart another fixture and retro-fit it.

Maybe go back to lowes and look into desk lamps instead of florescent fixtures and see what you come up with.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

To get the most bang for your buck. Go with a 36watt AH kit. They will fit into an AGA Fluorescent Housing too.
http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

That's what I have over my 10g.

 

[Notophthalmus]

A guy on another forum just recommended this fixture to me. Maybe a little overkill for what you want.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

Four per case
• Sold in case lots only

another bad thing is its one single bulb with lots of restrike. i might be going out on a limb here but i would say the ahsupply 36w might put more light into the tank then that. yes it is cheap but bad reflectors and bad bulb design.

you can get a normal hood and stuff as many cfl bulbs in there as you can.

 

[NeonFlux]

I use nvision daylight bulbs

 

[James0816]

Just a thought...couldn't you get one of the them cheap twin bulb bathroom lights (the kind you put up over your mirror) and put in a couple of CFLs? Maybe not since no reflection into the tank.